The dead Camelthorn trees in the famous Deadvlei are one of the Hotspots for Photographers all over the world.

Wolfgang_Steiner/Getty Images

Deadvlei

Top choice in Namibia


Although it's much less famous than its neighbour Sossusvlei, Deadvlei is actually the most alluring pan in the Namib-Naukluft National Park – it's arguably one of Southern Africa's greatest sights. Sprouting from the pan are seemingly petrified trees, with their parched limbs casting stark shadows across the baked, bleached-white canvas. The juxtaposition of this scene with the cobalt-blue skies and the towering orange sands of Big Daddy, the area's tallest dune (325m), is simply spellbinding.

It's an easy 3km return walk from the Deadvlei/Big Daddy Dune 4WD parking area – follow the waymarker posts.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Namibia attractions

1. Sossusvlei

1.93 MILES

Sossusvlei, a large ephemeral pan, is set amid red sand dunes that tower up to 325m above the valley floor. It rarely contains any water, but when the…

2. Hidden Vlei

2.57 MILES

This unearthly dry vlei (low, open landscape) amid lonely dunes makes a rewarding excursion. It's a 4km return hike from the 2WD car park. The route is…

3. Dune 45

11.53 MILES

The most accessible of the large red dunes along the Sossusvlei road is Dune 45, so-called because it’s 45km from Sesriem. It rises over 150m above the…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "namibia/sesriem-sossusvlei/attractions/deadvlei/a/poi-sig/1346446/1328023",
      "destination": "Namibia",
      "continent": "Africa",
      "country": "Namibia",
      "position": "superzone"
    }